Washday Talks

Motivation, it's everywhere. On Instagram in those inspirational quotes, on Youtube, with those perfect morning routines. Motivation is the key to success, or so we thought, we rely on it so much yet it fails us time and time again. Because realistically, motivation is nothing without the actions which supplement it. Successful habits, Optimum Environments, and Consistency.

The inspirational quotes and motivational speakers are telling us to follow our dreams, to work for what we long for, to chase that mirage of success to the ends of the earth until we finally catch it. But let's be realistic, how many of us actually succeed? There are bills, obligations, hardships, and unfortunately, not everyone has wealthy backgrounds to back up their endeavours.

 Is chasing your dreams exclusive to the privileged and wealthy, is it right for us to encourage our children, students, and mentees to take the conventional job routes, the ones which guarantee employment? Can we ever justify the education system's demolition of childhood dreams with the prospect of financial security?

Why do we change the way we speak, is it insecurity, conformity, prejudice? Why do we try to sound posh, or urban, intelligent, or funny? Why does our language have to reflect so much of our personality? Code Switching is prevalent in many of our lives, yet our reasons for adjusting our accents and language differ greatly. Language can be a means to convey our identity, so by changing it so frequently, one could argue that we are changing ourselves in the process. Or merely ashamed of how others will perceive us if we spoke like we usually did, with our accents and slang.

How often do you look back on past actions? We are influenced by our thoughts, feelings, and actions. At times, these may be hard to keep in check, however, the art of doing so can be acquired through reflection. Look back on past experiences, decipher them, and watch the magic unfold.

We've all heard the common narrative, that we all have the same 24 hours in a day, the same access to higher education, the same opportunities as those around us. But is it really true? Do we all really compete on a level playing field? Does privilege really exist? One could argue that our society is fair and just, but personal experiences offer a different story. Personal experiences suggest that a meritocratic society is merely a myth.

Why do some people just get away with a bad attitude, why can't we all just chill and be respectful? Well, unfortunately some of us are expected to assume higher moral ground in every situation - it's tiring.

Life is a rollercoaster, a football game, an ice hockey match, a dance club. Life is what you want it to be lol. But balance is key in achieving both your long-term and short-term goals. It is indicative of your control over your life and your decisions. Successful people achieve balance in life, it's really that important.